Local Administration of Methylprednisolone Laden Hydrogel Enhances Functional Recovery of Transected Sciatic Nerve in Rat

Objective: to determine the effects of methylprednisolone-laden hydrogel loaded into a chitosan conduit on the functional recovery of peripheral nerve using a rat sciatic nerve regeneration model was assessed. methods10- :mm sciatic nerve defect was bridged using a chitosan conduit (chit/cgp-hydrogel) filled with cgp-hydrogel. in authograft group (auto) a segment of sciatic nerve was transected and reimplanted reversely. in methylprednisolone treated group (chit/mp) the conduit was filled with methylprednisoloneladen cgp-hydrogel. the regenerated fibers were studied within 16 weeks after surgery. results: the behavioral, functional and electrophysiological studies confirmed faster recovery of the regenerated axons in methylprednisolone treated group compared to chit/hydrogel group (p<0.05). the mean ratios of gastrocnemius muscles weight were measured. there was statistically significant difference between the muscle weight ratios of chit/mp and chit/hydrogel groups (p<0.05). morphometric indices of regenerated fibers showed number and diameter of the myelinated fibers were significantly higher in chit/mp than in chit/hydrogel group. conclusion: methylprednisolone-laden hydrogel when loaded in a chitosan conduit resulted in improvement of functional recovery and quantitative morphometric indices of sciatic nerve.